Stanley coach Cleve Craig, who took the Lady Panthers from the district cellar to the Class B semifinals and a 41-1 record, was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year for Class B. It was his first selection as the state’s best coach despite his Pelican team winning the 2012 title.
“It’s definitely an honor but I’m real proud of the kids,” Craig said. “They say it’s not the Xs and Os but the Jimmys and Joes and I had some pretty good Jimmys and Joes this year.”
Three of Craig’s players were named to the prestigious team, including 5-foot-7 junior Michee Alexander (18.9 ppg) to the first team. Junior Sara Housley (13.0 ppg) was selected to the second team, while Lady Panthers senior Tasha Hall was an honorable mention selection.
“This really means a lot to me,” Alexander said. “I couldn’t have done it without Sara, Tasha and Macey (Nash). We all worked well together and just got the ball in the hoop.”
The Fairview girls basketball program is very familiar with Class B success. Now the Allen Parish school’s boys team is beginning to taste success as well.
Senior guard Maghan Cooley and sophomore post player Brennan Maddox made it a Fairview sweep of the Most Valuable Player honors on the Class B all-state teams selected by the LSWA panel.
Cooley averaged 19 points and 10 assists per game in leading the Lady Panthers to their eighth straight Class B title, while Maddox averaged 22.2 points and 16.4 rebounds per game as he guided the Panthers to the Class B title game, where they fell to Midland.
Ron Stark, the veteran head coach of the Panthers was chosen as the boys Coach of the Year for leading Fairview to its first state title game appearance. Cooley was joined on the all-state squad by a trio of teammates, including fellow senior Katie Lemieux (21.0 ppg) on the first team. Freshman Callie Maddox (15.0 ppg) and eighth-grader Maddisen Martin (13.0 ppg) were second-team selections.
Brennan Maddox also had a teammate on the all-state squad as junior guard Hunter Dowies was a second-team pick, averaging 15.5 points per game.
Joining Cooley, Lemieux and Alexander on the girls first team were Anacoco senior Jenna Price (17.0 ppg) and Lacassine sophomore Madyson Brasseaux (18.6 ppg).
Maddox was joined on the boys first team by Midland senior Jake Gautreaux (17.3 ppg), Doyline senior Lawrence Hester (27.0), Anacoco sophomore Will Reese (16.5 ppg) and Florien junior Bailey Walker (16.9 ppg).
Callie Maddox and Martin were joined on the girls second team by Florien eighth-grader Aja Law (16.0 ppg) and Lacassine senior Abby Melanson (15.0 ppg).
Rounding out the second-team boys’ selections were Simsboro senior Ron Abney (14.2 ppg), Midland senior Darren Arceneaux (13.8 ppg), Weston junior Kyle Reeves (18.0 ppg) and Anacoco junior Samuel Turnipseed (11.7 ppg).
